By Sara Fitzpatrick, Eastern Suburbs Reporter
CRISTINA Lombardo and her family have remained united while watching loved ones fall prey to breast cancer.
Two of her aunts have died from the disease – Elena Butler (45) in September 2002 and Diana Faraone (39) in May this year.
To honour the memory of both women and raise funds for the National Breast Caner Foundation, Mrs Lombardo and her cousin Melissa Milianku (daughter of Elena Butler) held a Pink Ribbon afternoon tea last month at the Alverna Centre in Balcatta.
“I’ve hosted a fundraiser for breast cancer before at my house with 30 women,” Mrs Lombardo said. “Last year my aunty Diana was too sick to attend so I didn’t hold one; I told her I’m not going to do it if you can’t come.
“This year I had to do it.”
The afternoon tea, which raised $10,000, included prizes, raffles and a tribute wall dedicated to women who had died from the disease.
Joanne Catalano, one of the women’s aunties who lost two sisters to breast cancer, wrote to the Community Newspaper Group last week praising the event and her nieces. “It was an emotional day, but with the support from family and friends and attendance of over 200 people it was a very successful day,” she said.